Emergency means of egress from elevator cars



May 26, 1925. 1,539,268

0. A; NORMAN EMERGENCY MEANS OF EGRESS m'zou ELEVATOR cans Original Filed Aug. 15, 1923 INVENTOR BY 9 3/4 A OR NEYS Patented May 26, 1925. s.

UNITED STATES OSCAR A. NORMAN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

EMERGENCY MEANS OF EGRESS FROM ELEVATOR CARS.

Application filed August 15, 1923, Serial No. 657,517. Renewed October 24, 1924.

f '0 all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, OSCAR A. NORMAN,

a citizen of the United States, and a resi of egress from elevator cars, and has for;

its object the provisionof means of access to the emergency panel n thetop or cellmg of an elevator car, which Wlll be read-,

car and be out of sight except when used. My device is arranged to take up the least possible space in an elevator car and when collapsed is completely enclosed, and is thus kept free from dirt or drippings of oil from the machinery and will be clean when its use is required.

In the specification and drawings I have described and shown my device as a means of access to the emergency exit near the top or ceiling of an elevator car, as con sisting of a series of folding steps. The use of foldable steps such as described is preferable to the use of the ordinary rung ladder, but my invention is not limited to the use of such steps only.

In this specification I describe my device in its preferred form, but I do not intend to limit myself to such form, the scope of my invention being pointed out and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in cross section, of the interior of anclevator car shouinamy improved means of access to the emergency panel in the top of the car, as extended.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the interior of the same car.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal. cross section of Fig. 9.. showing the steps folded up in the closet provided between the movable panel of my device and the exterior wall of the car.

An. ordinary elevator l is provided therefrom, extends a small arm 13.

with the usual exterior walls :2 and with the usual interior panels. In the top or ceiling of the car there is provided an emer gency panel 20. This panel can be removed and provides a means of emergency exit or egress from the car in case of trouble. The use of such an emergency exit is old and is not part of my invention, my invention residing in improved means of access to this emergency exit which I have provided.

In place of one of the interior panels of the elevator car I have a removable side panel 3 which has affixed toits interior side ily accessible when needed but will collapse or fold into a small part of the elevator a series of foldable steps 4 fastened to it by means of attachment piece 5. The individual foldable steps 1 are pinned to piece 5 and rotate uponit. The steps 4 are fastened together at their exterior ends by hand-rail 6. The governing rod or hand-rail 6 is attached to the steps in the same fashion and collapses when the steps are folded against the side panel.

Folding arms 7 and 7, foldable at the joint 8, 8', are fastened to the exterior wall of the car at 9, 9', and to the removable side panel at 10 and 10 by means of attachment pieces. By means of these foldable arms the side panel can either be collapsed against: the interior of the car, as shown in Fig. 3, or extended as shown in Fig. 1. The panel. when collapsed as in Fig. 3 rests upon flanges, such as 11, and leaves a closet be tween it and the exterior wall of the car.

This closet is from 1 to 1 inches in depth and is adapted to hold the folded means-of hand-rail 6, collapsible with said steps and governing their folding. From the panel, near the place of attachn'ieut of the folding arm 7 at 12 but slightly offset This arm is rotatably attached to the panel at 12 and to the step at 15. It is also pi'ovice is a practical, simple and eflicient atvided with a slot and the folding arm 7 tachment for an elevator and is such that it is attached to this arm by means of pin does not impair the appearance of the car. 1 1 passing through a hole in the folding This panel can be a part of any one of the armand?through?tlie'fslot'v in" the arm 13 'fou1'-"'sides of the elevatorcarpand by the anqxnio vable in that slot. The' sam'e conuse of the Words s'idepanel iii the specifistruction is provided for the smaller"fold cation and in the claims I of course mean ing arm 7. Tliesteps 1; the'gov'erning-rodanyoneof thefour sides of the car.

or hand-rail 6, and the side arms 13 and lVliat I claim is:

13, all fold when the foldiiigai-ms 7"a"nd 1. Tnmn'elevatorearyemergency means of 7 are collapsed and the panel returned to e 'i'ess near the top or ceiling of said car, its close'd'position;thepinl t sli'ding in' 'the*andfineansofaccess' to 'said egress means slot in thearm 13. The offset attachment comprising foldable steps fixed to said car. of the arms 13 and 13" I '1 21I1Cl IQQ'as'sh Wn; permits this foldin and:

"the panel 2. In an eleiiator" car; emergency 'ineans of ages near the'top orceiling otsai'd car,

collapsing, biit \vheirthe "folding? arms are and ii'ieans'" f-access to said egress ni'eans feiitended'aiidl thefpahl placed n its "sloplug 3osit on',"

' means of access to'tlie emergency"eXit 'neai tlie'top orc'eiling ofthe e-let ato'r'icarf" WVhen" "niovable side panel""and"the exterior side not'us ed the wliole device is conft tlie s'inall inch or 1%; finch c'los V th s oflset causes the steps able sidepanel ofsaid car.

themselves to assume a substantially lio'ri Iran-elevatorm en emergency means zentalipositlon despite"theslopin'g posit'ion' oregress neaithetap or'c'ei ling of said car of thefpa'nel.

and 'iir'ean s or access to said egress means comprising Toldabl'e steps fixed to removide panel oit 's'aidfcarand-adapted to mid into a closet f'oi' ned between said re- As i will" be seen ftroinf the" foregoing de scriptionpl' have provided a collapsibl whenui locketl a'nd extended" of compr singfoldablesteps having asaback 'accessfprov d e" a sloping "ser slot 'stepsfsup port a';i'ei"'ovable side panel ofsaid car. which afford'ea sy access to 'thefenierg'ency exit. In the preferred fcofistrii'ctioifthe of egi'essiiea 'thettop crashing of saidcar rungs" of a ladder; althoti hftlie 'ladder comprising a removable side" couldbe'u'sed 'itdesired. The'step sf; despite" the general-sloping position of thepancljai'e" sub initially horizontal. Tliey"are*likeivise'" steps may 'sdli'd and leather be theiii eie and" mean's'* of access to sait gress'" nie'ans,

t foldable steps" attached thereto adapted side pane'l and'the exterior-side wan of said.

" p'r'oi i de'd ii ith a solid jbaclt portionfivli icli "car.

the ascent. "Th I u laddenbetiteen aireXterior wall and the removable panel protects these parts i'i o'i ffltlie" j, oi1' and dii'tso often timid in elevator shaftsi "lvhenjfthe ems-gene means of'egi'ess 'isjiisedf faifordsneeded privacy to the persoitiniiiking the exit' The simpleconstruction provided" causes the steps 'to"au'toinat callyfopen"and"car,*compr1sing'aremovableside panel'haveiis" and holdsthesteps in exitfneai the top are ilin'g of an elevator close as" thepanel vis drawii'out or replaced iii'gaseries of folda'bl' stepsattacliedthei'eto, means colla psiblyfloldiiig said access respectively, and: assume thel po 'f"ineans "ivitlftespect' to l d caraiidineans sition The governing od '6 W1 c'h str n'gth aclapted tolfoldeai'd-step's when"saidiiccess place:', "like\ v1s =ca1i= "11ia1s re-@ mp'sea an'dto noldsaithsteps reaction as ali'a'nd iii to the person "s'1iBstantlally"horiioiitalwhen said access 'Jlacii'i'g' of the s't'e 'is or means are extended.

I 7. A means ot'access' to an emergency exit fold iiito a closet formed between said 6. A"means of access to an 'c i'iergency removed'ivithoutthncessitjofthe 0pm:----see amhea to said paneladapted to be top at th elevator; sothatth e cover can respect tiithecdver for the 'opeiiing iirtlie" he: the top orceiling otan' elevator'car, a removable side panel, colla'psible iiie'ans at achiiigsaitlpanel to" the side of said car, steps attached" tO' saidpaiiel adapted to be folded or extended by the folding orextendor said collapsible me'ans.

means of access to an inergency exit near the top or 'eiiing or an elevator "car, a i'i'i'ovable; 'side "panel,- collapsible means at cliingsaidp'aneltotlieside ot saidficai',

tor iWbrkin'gbehind hiQbac'lra's'hvould be vfolded or extended by the folding or e'iitendnecessary for example if li e werefiorce'd to ing of said collapsible ine'ans',"-"said steps climb up the side of the elevator. The deadapted to fold into a closet formed between said side panel and the exterior wall of said elevator.

9. A means of access to an emergency exit near the top or ceiling 01 an elevator car, a removable side panel, collapsible means attaching said panel to the side of said car, steps attached to said panel adapted to be folded or extended by the folding or extending of said collapsible means, said collapsible means adapted to permit said panel to extend into a sloping position and said foldable steps to assume at the same time a substantially horizontal position.

10. A means of access to an emergency exit near the top or ceiling of an elevator car, comprising a removable side panel, folding arms adapted to hold said access means collapsed or extended, a series of foldable steps attached to said side panel and adapted to be folded or extended by the folding or extension of said folding arms.

11. A means of access to an emergency exit near the top or ceiling of an elevator car, comprising a removable side panel, folding arms adapted to hold said access means collapsed or extended, a series of foldable steps attached to said side panel and means adapted to cause said steps to told when said ti'ilding arms are collapsed and to assume a substantially horizontal position when said folding arms are extended.

12. A means of access to an emergency exit near the top or ceiling of an elevator car, comprising a removable side panel, folding arms adapted to hold said access means collapsed or extended, a series of foldable steps attached to said side panel and a rod governing the folding of said steps and adapted to cause said steps to told when said folding arms are collapsed and to assume a substantially horizontal position when said folding arms are extended.

12-3. A means of access to an emergency exit near the top 01' ceiling of an elevator car, comprising a removable side panel, tolding arms adapted to hold said access means collapsed or extended, a series oi foldable steps attached to said side panel, an arm attached to said panel slightly offset from the place of attachment of one of said steps, said arm being likewise attached to said step and provided with a slot adapted to receive a pin attached to a folding arm and slidable in said slot.

let. A means of access to an emergency exit near the top or ceiling of an elevator car, comprising a removable side panel, folding arms adapted to hold said access means collapsed or extended, a series of toldable steps attached to said side panel and a rod governing the folding of said steps, an arm attached to said panel slightly offset from the place of attachment of one of said steps, said arm being likewise attached to said step and provided with a slot adapted to receive a pin attached to a folding arm and slidable in said slot.

15. In an elevator car, a removable side panel in said car, emergency means of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, and means secured to said removable side panel to permit access to said egress means.

16. In an elevator car, a removable side panel in said car, emergency means of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, and a series of supporting members mounted on the rearward side 01 said removable side panel for permitting access to said egress means.

17. In an elevator car, emergency means of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, a removable panel in said car, means movable to operative position directly beneath said egress means to permit access thereto, said means being movable to inoperative position concealed behind said removable panel.

18. In an elevator car, emergency means of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, a removable panel in said car, means normally concealed by said panel but adapted on removal of said panel to be moved to position to permit access to said egress means.

19. In an elevator car, emergency means of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, a removable panel in said car, means of access to said egress means, said means being adapted to be concealed from the interior of said car by said removable panel.

20. In an elevator car, emergency means of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, a removable panel in said car, means of access to said egress means, said means be ing adapted to be concealed from the intcrior of said car by said removable panel, or to be made available for use Within the interior of said car by the removal of said panel.

21. In an elevator car, emergency means of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, an outer wall in said car, a removable panel in said car placed adjacent to said outer Wall, and means of access to said egress means mounted between said panel and said Wall.

22. In an elevator car, emergency means of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, an outer wall in said car, a removable pane] in said car placed adjacent to said outer Wall, means of access to said egress means positioned for use upon the removal of said panel from the Wall.

23. In an elevator car, emergei'icy means of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, an outer Wall in said car, a removable panel in said car placed adjacent to said outer Wall, and steps mounted between said well and said panel in position to form a means of access to sand. egress means when smd cesslble through the renloval of szud panel panel is removed.

24;. In an elevator car, emergency means 5 of egress near the top or ceiling of said car, an outer wall in said'cam a removable panel in said car placed adjacent to said outer Wall, and in series of steps secured to the rearward slde of smd panel and made acfrom its position adjacent said Wall.

In testnnony whereof, Ihave slgned my name to thlS spec1ficat1on.

OSCAR A. NORMAN. 

